Summer plans? [Archive] - Digital Trends

Precious

06-21-2005, 11:42 AM

In honor of the first official day of summer, is anyone doing something interesting this summer? Are you leaving your computer behind for a week or two and going somewhere?

I am planning to head to South Carolina in August for some R & R on the beach.

dang

06-22-2005, 12:30 AM

I'm having a baby boy next month. I think that will take up a couple years before I get a real vacation again. :)

Precious

06-22-2005, 07:53 AM

Congrats!! I don't have any kids yet, but when I watch my niece I am so tired by the end of it, that I am totally ready to hand her back to my brother. :eww

Good luck with everything!

Ioman

06-22-2005, 09:34 AM

Congrats!! I don't have any kids yet, but when I watch my niece I am so tired by the end of it, that I am totally ready to hand her back to my brother. :eww

Good luck with everything!

lol too funny! I have a baby girl due in September. This summer will probably be spent getting the nursery ready and saving our money!

I am going to try and work on my car (RX8). I want to add an exhaust and maybe an air intake to it. I also want to add some Mazda Speed parts if I can.

dang

06-22-2005, 11:23 AM

Thanks. Ioman is going to be busy too!

Other then the kid thing, I'm going to be bbqing, having some wine, taking my son out to do things (I have a kid already) like swimming, put-put, etc. Should be fun!

llbbl

06-23-2005, 07:18 AM

my goal is to get laid :) lol j/k

i thought that would be funny to say

ECA

06-23-2005, 06:28 PM

Dang,
Didnt know you were preggers..

Me,
Probabaly mowing a few lawns, fixing roof. Swimming at a Hole called Mermaid..

Sunny

06-26-2005, 08:00 PM

Just want to say congratulations to our two future fathers! Good luck, you guys! :)
I am planning a trip to Costa Rica this summer. I've been dying to see the rainforest down there, one of the last few unspoiled places on earth...

dang

06-27-2005, 09:56 AM

Thanks! I'm already a father, having a new addition. :)

Costa Rica sounds pretty interesting! Let us know how it goes. Id like to see pictures.

ECA

06-27-2005, 12:13 PM

Dang,
New addition?? You are builgin onto your home this summer??
WOW, you must be rich...

dang

06-27-2005, 11:48 PM

LOL. Adding to the family, not the house.

Sunny

06-29-2005, 10:31 AM

Thanks! I'm already a father, having a new addition. :)

Costa Rica sounds pretty interesting! Let us know how it goes. Id like to see pictures.

Still working on the plans so I'm not quite sure when I'm leaving, but I'll definitely post some pics when I get back. Can't wait! :)

VeX

07-01-2005, 07:49 AM

I'll most probably have an interesting summer this year! I'm going on few long-distance trips, first to London and then to Amsterdam, both for a week. Rest of the summer will proably be filled with getting wasted and having fun. And i must try to loose a few pounds (actually a lot of pounds :) ) It's really great and fortunate for me to live near the sea! Croatia's sea and seacost is one of the most beutiful in whole Europe! I'll send some pictures if you're interested...

Precious

07-01-2005, 08:37 AM

I LOVE Croatia...I've visited twice and plan to go again next summer. It's one of my FAVORITE places in Europe. On the seaside, I've been to Pula and Rovinj...I also visited Tito's island when I was there, but did not spend enough time overall. Lots to see in just 2 weeks. This past trip I went to the east so Vinkovci, Vukovar, and the farthest city to the east...I can't remember but starts with an i. I bought some good wine there. I also went to Plitvice National Park...so beautiful!!! I plan to go to Split and Dubrovnik on my next trip...cover the south.

Have fun in Amsterdam...it's another favorite of mine.

VeX

07-01-2005, 08:57 AM

Thanks! I'm going to London mainly because of the language, to improve my speaking, i hope i'm not to vain when I say i write quite well. :) And Amsterdam is for having fun, and i belive it's the best place, besides maybe Prague, to have some REAL fun...
When have you been here? Especially in Vukovar, before or after the war? Becouse it's very sad place now... Reminds me of all the horrors of war in general...
I would suggest to take a cruise along the cost, and visit most of the islands, it's definately the most beautiful route you could take!

Precious

07-01-2005, 11:06 AM

The first time I was in Croatia was in 1997, but I did not visit Vukovar until last year. I had an exchange student from Croatia live with my family when I was in high school and we visit each other as often as we can.

They have friends who stayed in Vukovar during the war and I stayed with them when I was there. We talked alot about what it was like during the war...and it was very sad to hear. Especially when we walked around the town. But, I also think it was important to hear because most Americans don't know what war is REALLY like, just what it's like to watch on TV.

Have fun improving your English...I'm sure its way better than my Croatian. (I was told I sould like I'm Polish when I try to speak the few words I do know)

Forsaken

07-02-2005, 02:32 AM

Cool, made the trip from pescara, italy across the Adriatic to Split, then onto dubrovnik and medjugorge back in the day. Yugoslavia (well guess it is the former Yugoslavia) is truly beautiful country. I am jealous of all you world traveller's.. :cheers :thumb

Precious

07-06-2005, 10:10 AM

ECA

07-06-2005, 11:46 AM

WISH??
Florida, theres a convention there, I would like to go to.
Vegas,I hate vegas, theres ALOT of conventions going on there.
Tokyo, software and hardware convention.

Sunny

07-07-2005, 06:55 AM

It sounds like you done some traveling of your own too...I also am jealous of those that are heading out of the States this summer. Other than my trip to the beach, I'm stuck here, but I do have plans for next year to go to London and then back to Croatia in the summer...so I guess that makes up for it. If you are not traveling, where do you wish you were going this summer??

We have some old friends that have lived in Hilton Head, SC for years, but I've never been. I do love to visit, New Orleans, LA. :) That's a city to have fun in!!

Even though I am going to Costa Rica, there are SO many other places I want to go....lol. I wish I had time to squeeze in a few trips before the start of the school year *sigh*. I really want to make a trip to Alaska, but will have to wait to do that next Spring. (It's the best time to go--really good view of the Aurora, I hear.) I also want to go to Australia and New Zealand, but I'm going to wait until I can spend two or three weeks--so it will be awhile!! :P

May swing up by Seattle sometime later this year.

ModestMouse13

07-07-2005, 11:40 AM

oh don't even get me started tommorow were going to an amusment park and probally ovewr the weekend to next saturday we leave for a cruise and stuff but i am in new york on vacation right now.

VeX

07-07-2005, 11:48 AM

After this today, i'm quite scared about going to London... I hope there won't be any more of that horrible attacks...

ECA

07-07-2005, 12:06 PM

Vex, lets keep that in the other thread..

VeX

07-07-2005, 12:23 PM

I just said it here, because i previously said i'm going to London.
I'm sorry, won't continue this here...

dang

07-07-2005, 01:47 PM

its ok. i'd be nervous too. I was a little nervous going to Paris last year mainly due to what i thought the attitude towards Americans would be.

I'd love to go back to London and take my wife. Any recommendations on some good restaurants? When I went, I never had that great of food.

Vex, dont let them scare ya, otherwise you let them win.

ECA

07-07-2005, 02:08 PM

Thats the whole key...Go where you really wish, see what you want...As long as there isnt a war going on in the country, you should be fine. the Odds are in your favor of EVER being hurt.
Just dont drink the water..

spankers

07-07-2005, 02:17 PM

After this today, i'm quite scared about going to London... I hope there won't be any more of that horrible attacks... You stand a better chance of being run over by a car or bus than getting killed or injured by terrorists.

ECA

07-07-2005, 02:25 PM

Or pulling a ham string, because you walked to far in the mall.
But if you get worried, its easy... dont goto the metro areas.. aim for the outskirts, and where the REAL people really are. better food, better prices..

VeX

07-07-2005, 03:30 PM

Thaks for the words of encouragement, guys!!
Just dont drink the water..
Now when you said that, it made me really think... I think that my city, Rijeka (actually, translated, it means "River"), is now the only city in Europe over 300 000 people that has drinking water. We all take it for granted, but when I hear in how many countries the water is actually POISON, it makes me realize how rich we are, and how stupid we are for taking that for granted and not cherishing and protecting it...

Precious

07-08-2005, 06:56 AM

ModestMouse13

07-08-2005, 07:09 AM

You stand a better chance of being run over by a car or bus than getting killed or injured by terrorists.
actually you have a better chance that a 767 engine will fall out of the sky and land on you than terrorism. Now don't start to worry about 767 eninges falling from the sky.lol

ECA

07-08-2005, 11:46 AM

you didnt see the news about a small plane landing on a porche???

dang

07-08-2005, 01:31 PM

Now when you said that, it made me really think... I think that my city, Rijeka (actually, translated, it means "River"), is now the only city in Europe over 300 000 people that has drinking water. We all take it for granted, but when I hear in how many countries the water is actually POISON, it makes me realize how rich we are, and how stupid we are for taking that for granted and not cherishing and protecting it...

Not sure about Europe, but places like Mexico there are bacteria in the water which makes non-natives sick. Native people can drink it and not get sick.

Of course, there could be other things in the water that can make you sick, like sewage, pesticides, etc. Always best to buy the bottled water that has the safety ring still in place (some places are known for re-filling bottled water with local water and re-selling it.)

spankers

07-09-2005, 04:24 AM

actually you have a better chance that a 767 engine will fall out of the sky and land on you than terrorism. Now don't start to worry about 767 eninges falling from the sky.lol Ok Donnie Darko... ;)

spankers

07-09-2005, 04:29 AM

Now when you said that, it made me really think... I think that my city, Rijeka (actually, translated, it means "River"), is now the only city in Europe over 300 000 people that has drinking water. We all take it for granted, but when I hear in how many countries the water is actually POISON, it makes me realize how rich we are, and how stupid we are for taking that for granted and not cherishing and protecting it... It's amazing that you have good water. From what I've seen quite a few of the former Soviet block countries had some serious pollution problems. I spent some time in Warsaw and was warned not to even brush your teeth with the tap water.

spankers

07-09-2005, 04:42 AM

VeX

07-09-2005, 05:24 AM

It's amazing that you have good water. From what I've seen quite a few of the former Soviet block countries had some serious pollution problems. I spent some time in Warsaw and was warned not to even brush your teeth with the tap water.
Well then thank God we weren't in the Soviet block! ;)
Former Yugoslavia was a comunist, actually "social-democratic" , country, but it's president Josip Broz Tito managed to ressist Staljin, and to keep Yugoslavia independent from SSSR.
That river we take water from goes from the mountains, and there near the spring is the... i don't know the term, but the place that takes the water, refines it and sends it to the city. So it is clean there. But that part that goes trough the city is so god damn poluted that it stinks horribly.

VeX

07-09-2005, 05:31 AM

Not sure about Europe, but places like Mexico there are bacteria in the water which makes non-natives sick. Native people can drink it and not get sick.

Of course, there could be other things in the water that can make you sick, like sewage, pesticides, etc. Always best to buy the bottled water that has the safety ring still in place (some places are known for re-filling bottled water with local water and re-selling it.)
Like i said, our water is one of the cleanest in Europe (even some tourists have been filling bottles here and takin water with them), so few years ago there wasn't many tipes of bottled water, but only mineral water with CO2.
Now we have many tipes of bottled water, and I'm proud to say that amongst many tipes, only one is imported, Radenska, from Slovenia.
Anyway, our spring water "Jana" reciewed some award for being the bestl spring water in the world, with most minerals and something...

VeX

07-09-2005, 05:36 AM

I just did I little research on Rijeka. It looks like a good place to live and is a hop, skip, and a jump away from Italy. Cool. From some of your other posts it sounds like the broadband situation still sucks there though.
Yeah, it's nice, i mean, it's a city, but still isn't all tarmac and concrete, there are alot of small forests and parks in the city, there is sea, wich isn't so poluted very near, the islands are very close, I like it here! I don't think I could live too far away from the sea...
Anyway, I'll post some pictures here...
Yeah, broadband here sucks, but it's like this in whole Croatia. But now many new operaters are starting to appear, so in few years we could be on the Internet level of the Europe..

spankers

07-09-2005, 06:04 AM

Is Croatia an EU candidate? If Croatia joins the EU then perhaps fiber optic connectivity will improve. It seems that a good portion of EU member cities and universities (and, of course, CERN) in are interconnected with multiple OC-192 (ten gigabit) or better links. Better speeds than the U.S. Do a google search on the GÉANT and DANTE networks for more info.

VeX

07-09-2005, 06:24 AM

Yes, it's an EU candidate, and should already be in EU, with Slovenia, last year. But they won't let us in because of some escaped war criminal (actually to us he is a war hero).

Sunny

07-09-2005, 10:42 AM

Don't let the terrorists get you down...yesterday it seemed like all my out of town friends called to make sure i was okay using the DC metro to get to work. I was like this is probably the safest day to use it with all the extra security, and I'm not going to change my habits to suit the terrorists (and driving takes twice as long).

I'm with you, Precious. I normally take the subway to work here, and the police presence has been really strong since Thursday. I have to admit it made me feel a bit better. I'm starting a new job this fall and for the first time in my life, I'll have to drive to work everyday--which may not be a totally bad thing lol. (Not that they couldn't blow up a bridge, or something :eww ). But hey, life has to go on, and if we let them scare us into changing our habits, we're letting them win. DEFY the bastards!!

ECA

07-09-2005, 12:18 PM

The problems with the Old countries, is the industrial revolution, and sewage treatment.
Even the Us has been fighting the past for cleaner waters, lake Erie, and 1 other were so poluted, they could be Lit on fire.
Venis, is finally cleaning up alot, but they are down river from everyone else, and there sewers, ARE the river, mostly.
It is much better, when traveling to get BOTTLED, processed waters. Every area has its own things that have been dumped into water.

Precious

07-11-2005, 07:30 AM

I sure that Croatia will eventually make the cut and join the EU, especially with all the push to build the infrastructure. I just hope Croatia doesn't become all commercialized like some other EU countries have since they joined.

I'm so excited since I know now for sure I will be most likely be back to visit next summer since my friend was hinting she might be getting married...she wanted to check to see when school was out for me so that they could plan that I would be there.

Precious

07-11-2005, 07:37 AM

I laughed when you mentioned Lake Erie...since I grew up along it. My hometown was known for its sunsets over the lake and they were so beautiful partly because of the pollution coming from Cleveland. How ironic that something bad could make a sunset more beautiful.

I guess the lake is actually getting less polluted since zebra muscles found there way into the lake from ships dumping their balist water. But the zebra muscles now are hurting fish populations. If it's not one think it's another.

Precious

07-11-2005, 07:42 AM

The police have been all over the metro here...I did not see any on the way to work the day the London bombings happened, but now I see them everywhere. Including those with dogs and big guns, but I guess it should quiet down after today if they lower the threat level.

Good luck driving to work everyday, I'm sure it will be quite a change...I must say taking the metro is alot less stressful. I get to spend a hour each way reading a good book or the newspaper instead of dealing with crazy drivers.

Sunny

07-11-2005, 09:10 AM

Precious,
Taking the subway to work used to be relaxing, back in the days when I could actually get a seat and read on the way in. I can't do that from where I live now; the trains are PACKED during rush hour. I must say I will not miss having to squeeze into a car with hoards of other New Yorkers lol.
Driving will actually be a breeze, since I'll be going against traffic (toward the suburbs) and it's roughly 30 mins from door to door.
It's interesting that you guys call it the "metro" in DC--one of my dearest friends is spending the month in Paris (lucky her, right?) and that's what they call it there! :)

Precious

07-11-2005, 01:23 PM

I guess I'm lucky since I get on one stop from the end of a line so there are always seats, but none after that. I don't usually get a seat going home and it's more crowded, but nothing like in New York...most own cars here and would rather drive.

I also think its interesting how cities call the subway different things - metro, L, underground - I guess since all our signs and trains have big M's is the reason we call it the metro

Sunny

07-11-2005, 04:47 PM

Yep. In San Francisco it's the Bart....

VeX

07-11-2005, 11:33 PM

I'm sure that Croatia will eventually make the cut and join the EU, especially with all the push to build the infrastructure. I just hope Croatia doesn't become all commercialized like some other EU countries have since they joined.
Offcourse it will become comercialized, foreigners will buy EVERYTHING! And we will have to sell all imported products, and they will destroy our markets and agriculture, cause nothing can be sold "on wild", I'm mean, now small family buisnesses sell something they produce in small quantities on markets, like cheese, vegetables, fruit and others. And when EU is here, only stuff from big farms, all packed in plastic, and much more expencive, could be sold.
If we weren't in such financial problems right now, I would be the first to start the protest against entering the EU. The life will allmost surely become much harder and everithing will become much more expencive. But they belive if we get it, we'll get some financial back up to pay our depts, and save our economy, or else we would have to announce bancrupcy by 2009.
It's like we are near the cliff, almost falling down, and then EU gives us a hand to save us from it, but i'm not sure it's a hand we should take...

dang

07-12-2005, 10:03 AM

there will be a problem with your economy vs wages too. At least in france it happened (and i'm sure in other countries).

The euro is worth more then the franc. When they converted everything from francs to euros, say a piece of cheese, it used to cost 20 francs, so they just made it 20 euros. So, it actually costs more now. However, wages were not converted the same way. So people are making the same amount coverted into euros (if they made 25 francs an hour, then they make 8 euros or whatever the conversion is), but all goods have gone up in price. It's a big problem.

spankers

07-12-2005, 11:14 AM

It depends on the country. The richer western european nations have taken a loss but some of the less wealthy nations (e.g., Ireland) have made a killing when they made the transition.

Sunny

08-03-2005, 05:41 PM

On the subject of bottled water, I will be drinking nothing but starting next Tues. I'm off to Costa Rica on my first vacation in over a year--can't wait. Had to pick up a prescription today as prevention against malaria, which one can get from an infected mosquito. (Be assured, I will be using TONS of mosquito repellent....!)

I plan on taking LOTS of pics, and will be sure to post the best upon my return.
:)

ECA

08-03-2005, 08:02 PM

garlic, onions, and B6-12(yeast) help alot to detur insects..

VeX

08-07-2005, 03:00 PM

Hello!
I'm back!
And still in one peace!
It was great, England is a really beautiful country, i'm very impressed!
Now i don't know what else to write about it, so if you have any questions, just ask!
Cheers!

Sunny

08-07-2005, 08:09 PM

garlic, onions, and B6-12(yeast) help alot to detur insects..

I checked up on that ECA, heard it's a myth. I have plenty of Citronella-based insect repellent, tho.

ECA

08-07-2005, 08:30 PM

tell my dog that..Load them up on B, and no bites..

Precious

08-08-2005, 06:58 AM

I'm glad to hear that people are having good summer trips...I'm in the countdown phase for my trip to the beach. I can't wait to get away from the city and relax with a good book.

llbbl

08-08-2005, 08:58 AM

grads on ur kid dang.

Sunny

08-08-2005, 05:07 PM

Precious-have a great time at the beach! I know what you mean, I can't wait to get out of this city for a whole week lol. It'll be my first real vacation in over a year! I'm packing as I speak lol.

ECA-I was hoping that garlic or B vitamins would help. I did a little research and there is no scientific documentation proving that either one stops mosquitos from biting. If I thought it would do any good, I might've been willing to go so far as to drape myself in strands of garlic lol...keep those pesky vampires away, too! :rolleyes: